Local safety officials: 'We've done amazingly well'

Officials urge public to stay inside and off of the roads

Published: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 12:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 12:37 p.m.

Henderson County awoke under a thick blanket of winter snow Thursday morning – a pretty sight that posed a treacherous omen to any would-be travelers. Snow and its formidable sidekick, ice, remain on many of the back roads meandering through Henderson County, spurring safety officials to urge motorists to stay home or “use extreme caution.”

Facts

How are the roads?

NCDOT continues to treat main roads, including Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 64, as top priorities in Henderson County. Lanes on these primary roads with multi-lanes remain relatively clear, but safety officials warn that whatever moisture remains on the roads will likely refreeze tonight, creating black ice for motorists through Friday morning. The DOT planned to transition into tackling other two- to three-lane primary routes Thursday afternoon, with main secondary roads to follow Thursday night.

Nearly all secondary roads remain untreated in Henderson County, making travel tricky, if not treacherous. Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt is urging citizens to stay off the roadways. The DOT plans to treat main secondary roads Thursday evening and into Friday morning. Other secondary roads, neighborhoods and finally unpaved roads will follow as crews work around the clock through Saturday afternoon. Next on the DOT’s to-do list Thursday afternoon were: - N.C. Highway 225- N.C. Highway 280- N.C. Highway 191- Main secondary routes

And many have.

“We've done amazingly well,” said Henderson County Fire Marshal Wally Hollis, who added that they had “very few calls last night” for emergency services. “I think everybody has taken the advice and stayed off the road.”

The last reported accident as of 10:30 a.m. was a semi-truck that had jackknifed on Mills Gap Road early Thursday morning. Hollis said that the truck lost control in a big curve just before the industrial park. The scene was cleared at 7:44 a.m. and no injuries were reported.

A dispatcher with the N.C. Highway Patrol reported six calls for service in Henderson County as of noon Thursday. All calls were to aid stranded motorists. Thirty-three calls for stranded motorists and motor vehicle accidents were reported in the county Wednesday.

“The main roads all seem to be relatively clear. It's the secondary roads you have to worry about,” Hollis said, adding that more problems may happen when temperatures dip tonight. “Black ice will reappear tonight. Traffic will be very hazardous.”

Jason Willis, N.C. Department of Transportation maintenance engineer for Henderson County, said that crews have been working “around the clock” to keep Interstate 26 open. A continuous snowfall through the night required their constant attention.

Crews have also worked to clear main thoroughfares like U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 25, but with snow continuing to fall and winds gusting this morning, the secondary roads remained untreated at 11 a.m.

Willis said that crews hoped to start focusing on other primary routes, like two- and three-lane state highways, this afternoon. They planned to move into treating major secondary routes through the night and into the morning hours on Friday, he said.

Other secondary routes, neighborhoods and unpaved roads will follow on the to-do list “until we get everything back open,” he said, adding that digging-out efforts will have crews working straight through Saturday.

“The traveling public is our main concern,” Willis said Thursday morning. “We want people to be careful… Use extreme caution if you have to get out. If you don't, stay in.”

Although “the interstate is in good condition,” he said, “I don't want to give that false sense that everything is good and clear.”

North Carolina remains under a “state of emergency” declared by Gov. Pat McCrory, who urged drivers to continue to stay off the roads today.

<p>Henderson County awoke under a thick blanket of winter snow Thursday morning – a pretty sight that posed a treacherous omen to any would-be travelers. Snow and its formidable sidekick, ice, remain on many of the back roads meandering through Henderson County, spurring safety officials to urge motorists to stay home or “use extreme caution.”</p><p>And many have. </p><p>“We've done amazingly well,” said Henderson County Fire Marshal Wally Hollis, who added that they had “very few calls last night” for emergency services. “I think everybody has taken the advice and stayed off the road.”</p><p>The last reported accident as of 10:30 a.m. was a semi-truck that had jackknifed on Mills Gap Road early Thursday morning. Hollis said that the truck lost control in a big curve just before the industrial park. The scene was cleared at 7:44 a.m. and no injuries were reported.</p><p>A dispatcher with the N.C. Highway Patrol reported six calls for service in Henderson County as of noon Thursday. All calls were to aid stranded motorists. Thirty-three calls for stranded motorists and motor vehicle accidents were reported in the county Wednesday.</p><p>“The main roads all seem to be relatively clear. It's the secondary roads you have to worry about,” Hollis said, adding that more problems may happen when temperatures dip tonight. “Black ice will reappear tonight. Traffic will be very hazardous.”</p><p>Jason Willis, N.C. Department of Transportation maintenance engineer for Henderson County, said that crews have been working “around the clock” to keep Interstate 26 open. A continuous snowfall through the night required their constant attention.</p><p>Crews have also worked to clear main thoroughfares like U.S. Highway 64 and U.S. Highway 25, but with snow continuing to fall and winds gusting this morning, the secondary roads remained untreated at 11 a.m.</p><p>Willis said that crews hoped to start focusing on other primary routes, like two- and three-lane state highways, this afternoon. They planned to move into treating major secondary routes through the night and into the morning hours on Friday, he said.</p><p>Other secondary routes, neighborhoods and unpaved roads will follow on the to-do list “until we get everything back open,” he said, adding that digging-out efforts will have crews working straight through Saturday.</p><p>“The traveling public is our main concern,” Willis said Thursday morning. “We want people to be careful… Use extreme caution if you have to get out. If you don't, stay in.”</p><p>Although “the interstate is in good condition,” he said, “I don't want to give that false sense that everything is good and clear.”</p><p>North Carolina remains under a “state of emergency” declared by Gov. Pat McCrory, who urged drivers to continue to stay off the roads today.</p><p>____</p><p>Reach Weaver at Emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>